Diet is crucial when it comes to preventing Alzheimer’s, and not just for seniors. People in their 40s, 30s, and even their 20s will benefit from switching to brain-friendly food and drink. Here, Dr. Oz and neurologist Dr. Majid Fotuhi unveil their game-changing memory diet.

From This Episode:

There are two key points to maintaining a brain-healthy diet. The first is that as your belly grows, your brain tends to shrink. Research has demonstrated a direct correlation between obesity and a shrinking of your hippocampus – the part of the brain responsible for memory and recall. So it’s vital to limit the quantities of food you eat, and to be sure to get plenty of exercise. The second factor in a brain-healthy diet is carefully choosing what you eat. Certain unhealthy foods, like refined sugars, increase cellular inflammation and reduce blood flow to the brain. The superfoods listed below do the opposite, reducing inflammation and increasing blood flow to the brain to make it stronger than ever.

Brain Superfood 1: Elderberries

Elderberries are packed with quercetin, a flavonoid that’s critical to your brain’s health. Like blueberries and strawberries, the flavonoids found in elderberries help reduce harmful inflammation at a cellular level. Additionally, quercetin increases the activity of your cells’ mitochondria, which you can think of as the “powerhouses” within each of your cells. By boosting your mitochondrial activity, you’ll boost your overall energy level, too.

Brain Superfood 2: Pecans

Pecans are high in omega-3s, which are vital for a healthy brain. In fact, pecans are the most antioxidant-rich tree nut, and are ranked by the USDA among the top 15 foods with the highest antioxidant capacity. A brand new study shows consumption of omega-3 rich foods like pecans can dramatically reduce the risk of neural degeneration.